EV maker Rivian plans to roll out its second product line, the R2, on March 7. However, to whet the appetites of the company’s aficionados and others who are interested in a smaller, less expensive electric SUV, it offered a short teaser video of what’s coming. The...
When Tesla delivered its first Cybertruck during a livestreamed event last November, CEO Elon Musk made a point of talking about just how tough and “literally bulletproof” the electric pickup is, even showing a video of it being raked by gunfire. Rust, however, may be Cybertruck’s Achilles Heel. Reports by some members on Cybertruck owner forums indicate the panels on their trucks have begun showing corrosion. The extent of the problem is uncertain, as is the cause. But, if it proves to be more than a rare fluke it could cause serious problems for Tesla, as Headlight.News reports.
The fight for hands-free driving supremacy went another round with General Motors announcing plans to expand its Super Cruise network to 750,000 miles in the U.S. and Canada. The process is underway and expected to be complete next year. Get details at Headlight.News.
The struggling market for fuel-cell vehicles was handed another setback as Shell announced that it was shutting down all seven of its hydrogen refueling stations open to retail customers in California. That might seem an irrelevant number were this to involve its gasoline service network. But it represents nearly one in six of the hydrogen facilities in California and about 12% of the 59 open to the public nationwide.
Anyone who may have wondered about the potential success of offering EV buyers the option to get their tax credit at the time of sale, including using it as a down payment, can stop thinking about it — it’s working. The U.S. government’s paid out $135 million in electric vehicle tax credits in a little more than a month. Get details at Headlight.News.
General Motors’ autonomous vehicle subsidiary, Cruise, took another step in the rehabilitation of its image, making good on plans to hire a Chief Safety Officer. In the wake of last October’s incident with a pedestrian in San Francisco, the company said it would take steps to improve the safety of its vehicles. AV development veteran Steve Kenner is the new hire. Get details at Headlight.News.
The amount consumers are paying for new cars, trucks and utility vehicles continues to decline, falling 2.6% in January to $47,401. Find out what’s driving prices down at Headlight News.
Public charging companies are starting to fix troubling problems with reliability, according to a new J.D. Power study — but EV owners find they fail nearly one in every five times they plug in. The study also found that public chargers remain in short supply, especially as the number of battery-electric vehicles on the U.S. roads continues to grow. Get the story at Headlight.News.
The delicate status of auto shows is on full display lately. Now in full swing, the Chicago Auto Show is one of the now-smaller events looking — and finding — ways to remain relevant to new buyers as well as new media. Check out the story at Headlight.News.
Chevrolet is rapidly ramping up its battery-electric vehicle lineup, with a mix of products soon to include the Chevy Equinox EV. With deliveries slated to begin “in coming months,” the bowtie brand has released range and other information about the all-electric compact crossover. But the Equinox EV won’t be as affordable as had originally been signaled. Get the details at Headlight.News.
Headlight News for the Week of 2-12-24: Chicago Auto Show reveals – New Porsche Taycan – Seven Automakers Team for Charging Network – Ford Explorer Timberline review – This Week in Automotive History
Tesla and Rivian have gotten the scissors out again, cutting prices on their new offerings. The reductions are temporary for Tesla while Rivian’s cuts are designed to help offset being ineligible for part of the $7,500 federal tax credit. Get the details at Headlight.News.